FESTUS. Portius Festus succeeded Felix in the government of Judæa, in the year Vide Antiq. l. 20. c. 7.of Jesus Christ 60. As Felix his predecessor was inclined to do an obliging thing to the Jews, when he resigned his government, he left St. Paul in bonds at Cæsarea in Acts xxiv. 27.Palestine. Festus, at his first coming to Jerusalem, was intreated by some of the principal Jews to condemn Paul, or at least to give orders for conveying him to Acts xxv. 1, 2, 3, &c.Jerusalem, they having conspired to assassinate him in the way. Festus rejected their petition, saying, it was not customary with the Romans to condemn any man without hearing him; but he told them they might come to Cæsarea, and he would hear their accusations against Paul. Accordingly, some days after they came thither, but Paul appealed to Cæsar, and so stop’d the prosecution of the Jews, and secured himself from the wicked intentions of Festus, whom they had corrupted with a sum of money.
Joseph. de Bello, l. 2. c. 24. & Antiq. l. 20. c. 7.Festus finding how much robbing there was every where in Judæa, was very diligent in pursuing the thieves who laid waste the whole Province. He likewise suppressed a magician, who drew the people after him into the desart; lastly, he died in Judæa about the beginning of the year of Jesus Christ 62, and Nero named Albinus Antiq. l. 20. c. 8. Gen. iii. 7.to succeed him.